Coles and Woolworths, Australia's two biggest retailers, who between them control 75% of the grocery market, have been long-time rivals, but now they’re taking the battle online. Both companies are planning to intensify their online grocery shopping systems.

This action comes on the heels of projections from retail specialist Verdict Research, suggesting that groceries will overtake electrical goods as the No. 1 sector in online retailing within five years.

Less than a month after Ian McLeod took over as Coles managing director, the supermarket has boosted promotion of its Coles Online offering, ahead of an expected relaunch. Late last year, Coles nearly doubled its online range to over 17,000 products. Woolworths, which operates Safeway supermarkets in Victoria, offers delivery through its Homeshop website.